Railway block-signal system.



" PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904.

R.E.LAND.

RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1904.

' INVERTER, I F \Q/W ij m/aww/ffitwa WITHESEES.

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UNIT D STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

RAILWAY BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,418, dated.December 27, 1904.

Application filed April25, 1904. Serial No. 204,783.

To all whom it may concern: rails of adjacent blocks by the insulationE.

Be it known that I, REo'roR E. LAND, a citi- As electric currents ofcomparatively low volzen of the United States, residing at Mount tagsare employed, theground and the ties 1 Washington, in the county ofJackson and practically. insulate the opposite rails of a State ofMissouri, have invented new and useblock from each other. Disposedparallel 55 'ful Improvements in Railway Block-Signal with and adjacentthe track are two feed-con- Systems, of which the following isaspeificaductors F and G, connected, respectively, by tion. conductors10 and 11 with a suitable genera- My invention relates to improvementsin tor H. The rails 3, 5, 7, and 9 of the diifer- I0 railwayblock-signal systems. ent blocks are connected with the feed-con- 6O Theobject of my invention is to provide a ductor G by conductors 12,13,14,15, 16, and system in which atrain passing over the track 17,respectively. To the rails 2, 4, 6, and 8 willactuate electric signalsin advance and to are connected, respectively, the conductors 18, e therear of the train. 19, 2O, 21, 22, and .23. The opposite end of 15 In mysystem the track is divided into blocks each' ofsaid conductors 18, 19,20, 21, 22,.and 5 insulated from each other, opposite rails of 23 isbifurcated and connected with the feedeach block being mounted uponWooden ties, conductor F. and thus insulated from each other against 24denotes the two arms of the bifurcated the passage of currents ofcomparatively low conductor 18; 25, the two arms of the conduc- 2ovoltage. Branch conductors connect, respector 19; 26, the arms of theconductor 20; 27,

tively, opposite rails of each block with two the arms of the conductor21; 28, the arms of feed-wires, which are connected, respectively, theconductor 22, and 29 the arms of the conwith a suitable electricalgenerator. In some ductor 23. i i of the branch conductors of each blockare 10- 30 and 31 denote twoelectrically-actuated 25 catedelectrically-actuated signaling device signaling devices, such as twoincandescent such as electric lamps. electric lamps, located,respectively, in the My invention provides, further, a series of twoarms 24. 32' and 33 denote similar sigelectrical signaling devicesdisposed two adnals located, respectively, in the arms 25. 34 jacenteach end of each block, each of said and 35, 36 and 37 38 and 39, 40 and41 indi- 0 two signaling devices being connected, re cate similarsignals disposed, respectively, in

spectively, with one of the feed-conductors the arms 26, 27, 28, and 29.and with one of the rails of each block, each The lamps 30 and '31 arelocated in advance of said two signaling devices being disposed of theblock A, to the rails 2 of which they in advance of the block to whichit is conare electrically connected. The lamp 30 is 5 5 nected. locatedadjacent the points where the blocks 8 5 Myinvention provides, further,anovel sig- A and B meet, While the lamp 31 is located naling mechanismfor application to switches farther ahead from the said meeting-point.running from a main line of the track. The lamps 32 and 33 are similarlylocated re- Other. novel features are hereinafter fully specting theleft end of the block B. The 40- described and claimed. lamps 34 and'35are also similarly located re- The accompanying drawing represents aspectingthe right end of the block B. In a diagrammatic view of arailroad-track having like manner the lamps 36 and 37 3,8 and 39, aswitch and provided with the signaling sys- 40 and 41 are similarlylocated relative to the tem' of my invention. adjacent ends of theblock, to the rails of 45 1 denotes the ties upon which the rails arewhich they are electrically connected. Belaid; 2and 3, the oppositerails of block A; tween the lamps 30 and 32, 34 and 36, 38 and 4 and 5,the opposite rails of block B; 6 and 40 are inserted, respectively,transverse light- 7, the opposite rails of block C, and 8 and 9 shields42, 43, and 44. These shields are the opposite rails of block D. Likesets of disposed substantially in transverse planes 5 rails of oppositeblocks are insulated from the correspondin respectively, to the meeting-I00 points of the blocks A, B, C, and D. The said shields are so locatedas to prevent the lamps between Which they are inserted being seen fromthe blocks to which the said lamps are respectively connected.

The switch-track is denoted by I, 45 denoting the rails on one side ofthe track, and 46, 47, and 48 denoting the rails upon the opposite sideof the switch-track.

J denotes insulation inserted at each end of the rail 47.

A conductor 49 connects the rails 46 and 48 around the rail 47, the saidconductor being disposed in a conduit 50, crosssing under the rail 5 ofblock B. The rail 47 crosses the said rail 5. The rail 46 is connectedto a switch-bar comprising two transverse members 51 and 52, connectedwith each other by means of insulation K. The rail 46 connects With themember 51 and the rail 45 with the member 52, the members 51 and 52being connected, respectively, with the rails 4 and 5 of the block B.

In operating my system a car on the block A will through its wheels andaxles electrically connect the. rails 2 and 3, and a current passing;from the generator H through conductors 11 G 12. car wheel and axles,(not shown,) rail 3, rail 2, conductor 18 and its arms 24, and lamps 30and 31, conductor F and conductor 10 will illuminate the lamps 30 and31, thus giving Warning to a train passing on block B toward block A. Atrain on the track in block B will connect the rails 4 and 5 by means ofthe wheels and axles of the cars forming the train. The current willthen traverse the following circuit, beginning at generator H andpassing through conductors 11, Gr, 13, and 14, rails 5, car wheels andaxles to rails 4, thence through conductors 19 and 20, lamps 32, 33, 34,and 35, arms 25 and 26,and conductors F and 10 to the generator H. Thelamps 32, 33, 34, and 35 will thus be lighted and warn trains in blocksA and O that a train occupies the track in block B. The shields 42, 43,and 44 are provided so that the engineer of a train will not see theadjacent signal that his own train lights, and so confuse it with thelamps lighted by a train in the block next adjoining. As a train leavesa block it will cause the lights to the advance and in the rear of it inthe next block to be lighted. A train approaching the main track on theswitch-track 1 will cause the lamps 33 and 32 to be lighted, the currentpassing from generator H through conductors 11 and G, conductor 13, rail5, rail 45 by way of member 52, thence by the wheels and axles of thetrain (not shown) to rail 48, conductor 49,'rail 46, member 51, rail 4,thence by conductors 19 and 20, lamps 32 and 33, 34 and 35, arms 25 and26, and conductors F and 10 to generator H, thus warning trains at eachside of the junction-point of the switch and main-line tracks.

It will be noted that with the use of my invention a train at any placein a block will at all times have a danger-signal in advance and to therear of it. The electric generators H may be located along the track atwhatever distance apart may be desired. Any suitableelectrically-actuated signal may be utilized. visible ones being thosepreferred. At night electric lamps may be utilized and by day anysuitable signaling devices such as are. electrically actuated. Theelectrically-aetuaterl signals may he placed at street or railwaygrade-crossings along the line of track. The feed and branch wires maybesupported upon the telegraph-poles along the right of way or beotherwise disposed of. The current carried by the feed-wires I and (imay be used for other services additional to that of actuating thesignal system.

Many modifications of my invention may be made without departing fromits spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters latcut, is

1. In a railway block-signal system,the eom bination with two't'eed-conductors, of means for creating an electric current in saidcond uctors, thetrach-rails, opposite onesot which are divided intoblocks insulated from each other,opposite rails of each block beingadapted to be electrically connected through the intermcdiacy of thewheels and axles of cars supported thereon, branch conductors connectingrespectively opposite rails of each block with opposite feed-conductm's,and electrically-actuated signals disposed in some of the branchconductors of each block.

2. In arailway l lock-signal system,the combination with twofeed-comluctors, of means for creating an electric current in saidconductors, the track-rails, opposite ones ol which are divided intoblocks insulated from each other, opposite rails of each blockbeingadapted to be electrically connected through the intern'iediacy ofthe wheels and axles oi cars supported thereon, branch conductorsconnecting respectively opposite rails of each block with oppositefeed-conductors, and electric lamps inserted in some ol the branchconductors of each block.

3. In a railway block-signal system,the combination with twofeed-conductors, of means for creating therein an electric current, thetrack-rails, opposite ones of which are divided into blocks insulatedfrom HlCll other, opposite rails o'l each block being adapted to beelectrically connected through the intermediacy of the wheels and axlesof cars supported thereon, electri ally-actuated signals disposedrespectively adjacent the ends of each block, conductors connecting saidsignals with one of the feed-conductors, conductors connecting one setof rails of each block with the signals in the next adjacent block, andconductors connecting the opposite rails of-each block with the other ofthe feed-conductors.

4. In a railway block-signal system,the combination with twofeed-conductors, of means for creating therein an electric current, thetrack-rails, opposite ones of which are'divided into blocks insulatedfrom each other, opposite rails of each block being adapted to beelectricallyconnected through the intermediacy of the wheels and axlesof cars supported thereon, electric lamps disposed respectively adjacentthe ends of each block, conductors connecting said lamps with one of thefeedconductors, conductors connecting one set of rails of each blockwith the lamps disposed in the next adjacent block, and conductorsconnecting the opposite rails of each block with the other of saidfeed-conductors.

5. In a railwayblock-signal system, the combination with twofeed-conductors, of means for creating an electric current in saidconductors, the traclcrails opposite ones of which are divided intoblocks insulated from each other, opposite rails of each block beingadaptsignals being disposed nearer the adjacent end of the block inwhich it is located than the other of the said two signals, conductorsconnecting said signals respectively with one of said feed-conductors,conductors connecting respectively one set of rails of each block withthe adjacent signals of adjacent blocks, and conductors connecting theopposite set of rails of each block with the other feed-conductor.

6. In arailway block-signal system, the combination with twofeed-conductors, of means for creating an electric current in saidconductors, the track-rails opposite ones of which are divided intoblocks insulated from each other, opposite rails of each block beingadapt- .ed to be electrically connected through the intermediacy of thewheels and axles of cars supported thereon, electric lamps disposedrespectively two adjacent each end of each block, one of each of saidtwo lamps being disposed nearer the adjacent end of the block in whichit is located than the other of said two lamps, conductors connectingthe said lamps respectively with one of said feed-conductors, connectingrespectively one set of rails of each block with the adjacent two lampsin the adjacent block, and conductors connecting the opposite set ofrails with the other feed-conductors.

7. In a railway block-signal system, the combination with twofeed-conductors, of means for creating therein an electric current, thetrack-rails opposite ones of which are divided into blocks insulatedfrom each other, opposite rails of each block being adapted to beelectrically connected through the intermediacy of 'the wheels and axlesof cars supported thereon, electric lamps disposed two adjacent each endof each block the nearest two lamps of adjacent'blocks being eachinvisible from the block next in advance of it, branch conductorsconnecting said lamps with one of said feed-conductors, conductorsconnecting respectively one set of rails of each block with the adjacenttwo lamps in-each block next adjacent thereto, conductors connectingrespectively the opposite set of rails of each block with the otherfeed-conductor, and a plurality of light-shields disposed one betweeneach two lamps nearest the meeting-point of two blocks.

8. Ina railway block-signal system the combination with twofeed-conductors, of means for creating therein an electric current, thetrack-rails of the main line opposite ones of which are divided intoblocks insulated from each other, conductors connecting one set of.rails of each block with one of said feed-conductors, branch conductorsconnecting the other'sets of rails with the other feed-conductors,electric lamps disposed in each block and in each of said branchconductors, the trackrails of a switch one set of which connect with oneset of rails in one block and the other set ofrails of which connectwith the'opposite set of the said block and cross the other set RECTOR ELAND.

' Witnesses:

WARREN D. HoUsE, ELWELL CAMPBELL.

